Evil Dead II (1987) Plot Summary & Timeline

The film opens with a reimagined montage of The Evil Dead (1981), introducing the audience to the main character, Ashley ‘Ash’ J. Williams, portrayed by Bruce Campbell, and his girlfriend, Linda (played by Denise Bixler). The couple embarks on a trip to a remote cabin nestled in the mountains. As they settle in, Ash plays a piano while Linda dances playfully in her underwear, reflecting their romantic, carefree moment. He has recently gifted her a beautiful silver necklace, adorned with a small magnifying glass.

While seeking a bottle of champagne in another room, Ash stumbles upon a reel-to-reel tape player. Intrigued, he switches it on, only to uncover a chilling recording left by the cabin’s previous owner, Professor Raymond Knowby (John Peakes). The recording details the professor’s obsession with translating the Necronomicon Ex Mortis, also known in the recording as Morturom Demonto, the dreaded “Book of the Dead,” a grim artifact discovered in the Castle of Candar. The tape ominously reveals that the recitation of the book’s passages grants dark spirits the power to possess the living. As fate would have it, a passage is recited, which inadvertently awakens an evil force that swiftly possesses Linda.

In a frantic search to find Linda, Ash steps outside but is soon ambushed by the now-demonic Linda. Overcome by panic, Ash is compelled to take drastic action, leading to a heart-wrenching moment where he must decapitate his beloved with a shovel. After this tragedy, Ash shows remorse and takes the time to bury her, keeping the silver necklace as a bitter memento.

As the first film’s narrative concludes, a malevolent force permeates the woods, causing chaos as it consumes Ash. However, dawn breaks, temporarily banishing the Candarian demon, lifting Ash’s stupor and allowing him a moment of clarity and rest amongst the trees. Out of the blue, he perceives a face superimposed on the cabin, accompanied by a disembodied voice inviting him to “Join Us.” In a desperate attempt to escape, Ash races toward his car, only to discover that the bridge leading to safety has been destroyed. With no other choice, he treks back into the wooded expanse as the evil entity relentlessly pursues him, culminating in a harrowing chase through multiple doors and rooms within the cabin.

Meanwhile, Annie Knowby, played by Sarah Berry, arrives at the airport, carrying ancient pages from the Necronomicon. She is welcomed by her boyfriend Ed Gentley (Richard Domeier), and they embark on a journey to the cabin in search of her father.

The film takes a turn when Ash, having been bloodied and bruised from his encounters, awakes to a haunting piano melody. The self-playing piano seems to stir memories of Linda, recalling the silver necklace he keeps. Just then, the barricades of a window collapse, unveiling a terrifying sight: Linda’s grave marker topples, and her headless, decomposing corpse, played by Ted Raimi, rises and begins to dance eerily, mocking Ash’s grief. The ghastly remains appear to playfully taunt him, even as they momentarily regain their lost head, leading to a surreal encounter filled with horror and seduction.

Ash attempts to break free from this psychological torment, only to be met with further madness when Linda’s head reappears, greeting him with a chilling “hello, lover,” before violently biting his hand. To rid himself of his frenzied possession, Ash resorts to drastic measures, leading to a chaotic encounter with his own evil hand. With the help of a chainsaw, he fights back, decimating the remnants of his once-lovers’ corpse.

As the plot thickens, Ash confronts sinister entities within the cabin. His sanity unravels as he battles his possessed hand and encounters grotesque manifestations of evil. Meanwhile, Annie and her companions, with their own motives, face off against the dark spirits and providence that have entwined them in a spiraling fate and collective doom.

The tension escalates as Ash and Annie form an unlikely alliance, pledging to defeat the sinister forces unleashed in the cabin. In a thrilling montage, Ash prepares for battle, outfitting himself by fusing a chainsaw to his arm and modifying his shotgun for maximum efficiency. This transformation marks his evolution from a troubled man to a fierce warrior ready to take on the Deadites.

In a climactic showdown, Ash and Annie battle against the malevolent Henrietta and the other malevolent spirits. Using the knowledge gleaned from the Necronomicon, they rally against the dark forces, culminating in an epic confrontation against a gigantic, bloody visage of the evil spirit. As they attempt to seal the chaos, their resolve is tested when betrayal comes from within, leading to a gut-wrenching finale where sacrifices must be made.

Ultimately, Ash finds himself transported to a medieval world, where he is proclaimed the “Hero from the Sky” as knights gather to rally behind him. As the film draws to a close, Ash is left in disbelief, ready to confront whatever challenges await him next amidst the newfound allegiance of ancient warriors.